Lowering RS5 - advice welcome!

[jpcartel]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum so apologies if I'm asking an existing question.

I have a 2011 RS5 with Dymanic Drive etc. I am looking to lower the car around 20mm and have seen that H&R sell suitable lowering springs.

The problem I have found is finding someone who is actually willing & able to fit them. H&R advise the job must be carried out by Audi as the hydraulic dampers need re-charging once taken apart to fit the new springs. Audi (Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield, Bolton & Stockport) are not willing to fit aftermarket parts or recharge the damping system if I get someone else to fit the springs. Awesome GTI (who can supply the springs) advised they can fit them but they can't recharge the hydraulics and can't guarantee there won't be any damage caused to the suspension by draining the system to fit the springs or how to keep the dampers from bottoming out once drained so it can be taken back to Audi to be refilled which may cause damage to the internal seals if weight is put on them.

Has anyone managed to fit lowering springs to a car with dynamic drive and if so can you recommend anyone to fit them and retain all factory suspension functions?

I don't want to go down the route of KW etc coilovers as I want to retain the factory dynamic etc settings.

Any advice is very welcome!

Thanks

James

[HYFR]

What a load of bollocks

VAGTech in MK fitted my H&R springs and didn't need to interfere with the DRC

[jpcartel]

All sorted now - Martin at Unit 20 came back to me with a couple of solutions

2 options:
1. H&R springs only - can be fitted without removing dampers etc and retains DRC. May need recharging afterwards to double check.
2. KW coilovers - retaining DRC. A little more involved but nothing daunting.

[jpcartel]

Thanks HYFR for your comments too - I love dealers and such scaremongering...

[marzz]

my first choice was H&R lowering springs as well, after about a year swapped to KWV3 (H&R coil overs would be just as good),
the ride was great on H&Rs but the coil overs are what you need (now with DRC), the difference is day&night, you can adjust the dumpers accordingly to your driving style, also very handy adjustments for a track day,
look into sway bars, front and rear, they do transform the car ...

[jpcartel]

marzz - thanks for your comments.

Just had a look at your build thread - car is looking and sounding great.

I only picked up my RS5 last week after many years in a Merc daily and various japanese weekend toys and now trying to find a happy balance of both..

Glad to have a resource to help with the stuff I'm not so clued up on so thanks for the help.

[JamesRS5]

So what was the solution to this, did they need to do anything with the dampers and the oil or just remove them without disconnecting the oil lines that run from damper to damper?

I ask as I'm ordering a set of the H&R OE springs for my RS which comes with the sports pack so sports suspension which is diagonally linked with an oil line to reduce chassis roll.

[jpcartel]

So what was the solution to this, did they need to do anything with the dampers and the oil or just remove them without disconnecting the oil lines that run from damper to damper?

I ask as I'm ordering a set of the H&R OE springs for my RS which comes with the sports pack so sports suspension which is diagonally linked with an oil line to reduce chassis roll.

I've since had the DRC knocking issue rear its head so the car's going into Warrington Audi to have a day of 'suspension diagnostics + regassing' before I go any further. Booked in on Friday 14th so will post the outcome.

Once this has been carried out under warranty I'll be booking in with Unit 20 to have the lowering carried out.

Martin at Unit 20 said they can leave the shocks on the car and avoid draining if you are fitting springs only. They say to allow around 4-5 hours labour as it can be a little fiddly on the car.

They can also remove the shocks, refit springs on the bench and refit - this does involve draining and recharging the system. The labour ends up being about the same as the time to fit is quicker but recharging is required.

Seems like 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other.

[JamesRS5]

DRC knocking? Is this something I should do a quick search of the forum for as I've not heard of it?

As for the oil lines and dampers, so long as the oil lines aren't disconnected then there should be no issue with topping up or regassing.
I'm not sure if they are flexible lines running from the damper but I'm assuming they must be to allow for movement, if this is the case then the damper should be able to be removed and dropped slightly to allow access to remove and fit the springs. There is no need to fit springs on a bench, it serves no purpose as there is no setting up to do, it just makes the job easier.

Looking forward to hearing the results and hopefully seeing some pictures of the car when it's finished.

I really want to get mine lowered when it arrives but the quality and lack of skilled labour over here in Dubai really worries me, even main dealerships are a worry so anything outside of that is a real gamble!

[northernpar]

I've since had the DRC knocking issue rear its head so the car's going into Warrington Audi to have a day of 'suspension diagnostics + regassing' before I go any further. Booked in on Friday 14th so will post the outcome.

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with this. I took mine back in after about 12 months of ownership due to knocking. Got the normal dealer response however they must have recharged the system as it wasn't as bad after that. However, drove it for the first time in a couple of weeks and there is/was a noticeable knocking from the offside. Strangely enough, after a long journey it seemed to improve so once I get back from hols I'll be emptying the boot (just in case it a golf club making the noise!) and doing some under car investigation. After the RS4 DRC issues I'd be really p!ssed off to go through it all again on the RS5. TBH if DRC issues are the case and the dealer responses are the same as before then I will be seriously considering chopping it in for another brand that doesn't have these constant suspension issues. Be interesting to hear if the RS4 B8 guys are having anything similar as I'd imagine there are a lot of common components.

[jpcartel]

DRC knocking? Is this something I should do a quick search of the forum for as I've not heard of it?

As for the oil lines and dampers, so long as the oil lines aren't disconnected then there should be no issue with topping up or regassing.
I'm not sure if they are flexible lines running from the damper but I'm assuming they must be to allow for movement, if this is the case then the damper should be able to be removed and dropped slightly to allow access to remove and fit the springs. There is no need to fit springs on a bench, it serves no purpose as there is no setting up to do, it just makes the job easier.

Looking forward to hearing the results and hopefully seeing some pictures of the car when it's finished.

I really want to get mine lowered when it arrives but the quality and lack of skilled labour over here in Dubai really worries me, even main dealerships are a worry so anything outside of that is a real gamble!

The DRC knock was a constant issue with the previous RS4 models. It appears as a hollow knocking which seems to come from the foot well when going over bumps or through holes. It sounded to me like a loose anti-roll bar knocking or a suspension mount that was a little loose.

I took it into Audi Manchester and their chief technician agreed that there was some noise there and warranted further investigation. He said first step is regassing / pressurising the system and if that doesn't fix it then they check the valves that control the cross damping from one corner to the other. Failing that, replacement of components starting with cheapest first ( I feel if I'm at that stage its time to go for a full coilover set up as it can be endless.

Its worth searching on RS246 for DRC knocking and you'll get a lot of info on the subject.

Hopefully it will be resolved asap and I will post updates.

[jpcartel]

I've since had the DRC knocking issue rear its head so the car's going into Warrington Audi to have a day of 'suspension diagnostics + regassing' before I go any further. Booked in on Friday 14th so will post the outcome.

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with this. I took mine back in after about 12 months of ownership due to knocking. Got the normal dealer response however they must have recharged the system as it wasn't as bad after that. However, drove it for the first time in a couple of weeks and there is/was a noticeable knocking from the offside. Strangely enough, after a long journey it seemed to improve so once I get back from hols I'll be emptying the boot (just in case it a golf club making the noise!) and doing some under car investigation. After the RS4 DRC issues I'd be really p!ssed off to go through it all again on the RS5. TBH if DRC issues are the case and the dealer responses are the same as before then I will be seriously considering chopping it in for another brand that doesn't have these constant suspension issues. Be interesting to hear if the RS4 B8 guys are having anything similar as I'd imagine there are a lot of common components.

I'll certainly keep everyone updated after the visit to Warrington Audi. I hadn't heard of the problem until after I bought the car and then noticed the knocking so started searching and found all the previous problems with this set up. Wish I'd done some more research before buying! Anyhow - I am where I am and still under warranty so will push Audi to solve the problem and then if it persists I think I'll be fitting a full KW coilover kit to get rid of the problem once and for all..

I have noticed that it is more prominent when cold and seems to fade the more it is driven and warms up. Not sure if this is common or not?

You would think with the previous RS4 problems that Audi would have solved the issue so will see how they react. I won't go down without a fight so hope they're prepared. I think Mercedes would do anything possible to prevent me ever owning one again after all the Warranty work and good will on my last daily (Brabus CLS). I bought the RS5 as my wife has an A5 2.7Tdi Sportback S-Line which I love and fancied a more testosterone filled version. After no problems with hers in 3 years I thought it might be a good bet but we'll see....